BEARDED DRAGON

(Pogona vitticeps)

ABOUT THE BEARDED DRAGON

STATUS IN THE WILD

The bearded dragon is protected from export, as they were once smuggled out of the country in the 1970s. They are not currently considered endangered in the wild.

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HABITAT

The bearded dragon is found in eastern and central Australia. They occupy a large range of habitats from the desert to dry forests and scrub lands.

DIET

Bearded dragons are omnivores (meaning they eat both plants and animals). They live in areas where food is often hard to find, may eat anything from plant matter, insects and occasionally a small rodent or lizard.

DID YOU KNOW?

They are appropriately named bearded dragons because of the "beard", an expandable throat pouch with spiky scales!

Bearded dragons in the wild get much of their water from eating plants, as rain is rare in their habitat.

They have a third eye, or a cluster of light-sensitive cells on top of their head to determine if predators are flying overhead and casting a shadow.

There are seven species of bearded dragon.

Bearded dragons have the ability to change color slightly, usually during a rivalry between males or due to temperature change or other strong stimuli.